Car roof



Nov. 15, 1938. w. D. THOMPSON ET AL CAR ROOF Filed July 8, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WILLIAM D. THOMPSON WMM WWM BY DAVIDW-HAVYKSWORTH ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATIENTQFFICE William D. Thompson and David. Hawks;- worth, Birmingham, Mich.,assignors to Chicago-Hutchins Corporation, a corporation of- DelawareRElSSllED Application July 8, 1935, Seria-LNo. 30,381

6 Claims. (CL 108--5.4)

to-carry the roof load without the reinforcementofother elements suchascarlines and purlines. Still another object is to obtain a verycompact 10 construction and one so fashioned as to obtain.maximumcapacity within the car and adequate external clearance. Withthese objects in view the invention consists in the construction ashereinafter set forth.

153' In the drawings:

Fig. 1. is a perspective view of a portion of a roof of our improvedconstruction showing the same as mounted upon the side plates of the carframe;

20 Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section in the plane of.

the ridg Fig. 4 is a similar section on line 4-4, Fig. 2; Fig. 5isacross section, one-half beingshown 2,5. inend elevation;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6--6, Fig. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are cross sections illustrating: the

.manner of forming the welded joint between,

adjacent sheets; V 3Q. Fig. 9 is an enlarged section. of a portion of.

Fig. 5 showing the welded joint.

Heretofore car roofs have been formed of sheet metal units which extendfrom eavesto eaves, and which when united to each other form what 35. istermed a two-plane construction, a portion. of the metal being in alower plane and another portion in an upper plane, with the two portionsconnected by integral substantially vertically extending portions. Ourimproved roof is 4 of this type of structure but differs from previousconstructions in a number of particulars which result in advantageouscharacteristics. One feature of the construction is that theunits are sodesigned as to distribute load stresses with 4 5.. substantial.uniformity, avoiding the over-stressing of anyv portion and alsoavoiding the use of unnecessary metal. This is accomplished by arrangingthe upper and lower plane portions nonparallel to each other, with thegreatest space 59; therebetween at the ridge and tapering towards theeaves on opposite sides of the ridge. Another feature is that the twoplanes at the eaves merge into a single plane which is downturned andlies adjacent to. the side plateof the car 55.- frame, to which. it may.be secured by riveting,

welding or in any other; suitable way. Another featureis thereenforcement at. the eaves by bars which extend; continuously for aplurality of units or for the entire length of the'car, said barshavinga portion. lying inside the downturned 5 portion. of theunitsandalso an inwardly curved upper portion whichfits in the curved bend ofthe-unit andi reenforces'the same. With such construction, the carroofmay be formed in severaLseparatesections, each. comprising a series01- 10 the unitswelded to each otherand'to these longitudinal stripswhich latter provide sufficient, rigidity for handling; during:shipment. Various other advantageous features of the construction willbehereinafter specifically referred to. 15,

Eachiunit. A- is, formed from a'sheet metal blank which.ispressedytohave upperplane portions B andi'B on: opposite sides. ofthe ridge connected to eachpthenat thev rid e by a tangent curve portionB also lower plane portions C, C, con- 20 nected by a, similar tangent.curve C and sub.- stantially vertical: connected portions. Dintermediate theytwo planes. As before stated, the p anesfi. C and Bare; not p r llel but are s-pacedithe gr atest distance apart at theridge 2.5 andfrom this point converge towards the eaves. Atthe. eaves;the portions in the two planesare connected: by rounded;,portions E witha portion Fin a: single, plane extending vertically downward.The-dimensionsof the portionsin the up- 30,

per and. lowerplanesare such that there is a single portioninone planewhich is substantially thewidth of two portions; on opposite sidesthereof; in the other plane;- As, specifically shown, the

wide porticnis in the u per plane and the narrow 3,5,.

portion in the lower plane, said narrow portions beingxsecured to each.other by welding. This welding is preferably accomplished byprovidingeach of the adjacent sheets with turned flanges C -abutting each otherand: extending a short 0:

distance from the common plane ofthe sheets. Thesefianges are thenweldedto each other and fused to form a bead 0* without imparting a great dealofyheat to the portions of the sheets in the common plane. This isadvantageous, as it preyents. warping, or distortion. of said sheetsand. also forms. an effective union therebetween.

the neutral; axis: of the roof, while the spacing of the planes is 2%;inches. at the ridge to 13 2 at. the eaves ad acent to the curvedportion.

These specific dimensionsare of course not es- 6 5.

connected by substantially vertical portions, a load supporting bracketcomprising a flange fashioned to fit against one of said substantiallyvertical portions with a flange at its upper end extending beneath'theupper plane portion of the roof, the said portions being welded to theroof and a bracket portion depending below said lower plane roof portionand having a flange extending laterally beneath said upper planeportion.

6. In a car roof comprising upper and lower plane portions extendingfrom eaves to eaves and connected by substantially vertical portions, aload supporting anchorage comprising a series of brackets, each having aportion for fitting against one of said substantially vertical roofportions and welded thereto, said bracket portion depending below thelower plane roof portion and provided with a lateral flange extendingbeneath the upper plane roof portion, the brackets of said series beingaligned with each other so that their lateral flanges are in the samehorizontal plane.

WILLIAM D. THOMPSON. DAVID W. HAWKSWORTH.

Nov. 15, 1938. w. D. THOMPSON ET AL 2,136,657

CAR ROOF Filed July .8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS WlLLlAMD-THOMPSON DAVID W. HAWK SWORTH A TTORNEYS

